Christopher Cross - Christopher Cross (35th anniversary)

This month marked the thirty fifth anniversary of Christopher Cross, the self-titled is a soft-rock classic debut from a Texas-born singer/songwriter. It went multi-platinum in the US (reaching number 6 on the Billboard Album chart - a chart where it spent over one hundred and sixteen weeks total) as well as selling very well internationally (number 6 in Australia, number 14 in the UK, number 16 in New Zealand and number 18 in Japan).

For the complete album review, click here.

The Clash - London Calling (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (December 14th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of London Calling, the third studio album from the Clash. This 1979 release debuted on the US Billboard Album chart in early February of 1980. It then spent thirty-three weeks on that chart and peaked at number 27.

Click here for my full review.

Foreigner - Agent Provocateur (30th anniversary)

Today (December 7th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Agent Provocateur, the fifth studio album from Foreigner. The 1984 release sepent forty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with a top position of number 5.

For my full review, click here.

Beverly Hills Cop (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (December 5th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Beverly Hills Cop. The Grammy Award winning soundtrack spent sixty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at the number 1 spot. The record featured music from Glenn Frey, Harold Faltermeyer, Patti LaBelle, the Pointer Sisters and more.

For my complete review of this smash hit album, click here.

Teena Marie - Starchild

Last month (November 11th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Starchild, the sixth studio album from Teena Marie. This 1984 release was her best-seller to date, topping off at number 90 in Canada, number 31 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a thirty-five total week run on that chart), and number 9 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Klymaxx - Meeting in the Ladies Room

Today (November 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Meeting in the Ladies Room, the fourth studio album from the all-female R&B band Klymaxx. As one of their best-selling album, it gained Platinum sales status and went to number 46 in Canada, number 18 in New Zealand, number 18 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a sixty-seven week total stay on the chart) and number 9 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Meat Loaf - Bad Attitude

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the European release of Bad Attitude, the fourth studio album from Meat Loaf. It went to number 42 in Australia, number 36 in Sweden, number 24 in Germany and number 8 in the UK. When it was released in the US in 1985, it spent ten weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 74. The same nine tracks appeared on both versions of the album; for today’s review I will look at it from the US ordering.

Billy Bragg - Brewing Up with Billy Bragg

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Brewing Up with Billy Bragg, the second studio album from Billy Bragg. This one went to number 16 on the UK charts.

Linda Ronstadt - Lush Life

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Lush Life, the thirteenth studio album from Linda Ronstadt. It was also the second in a trilogy of jazz albums she did with bandleader and arranger Nelson Riddle. This multi-Platinum album spent twenty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 13. It also went to number 100 in the UK, number 38 in New Zealand, number 35 in Canada, number 32 in Australia, and number 8 on the US Billboard Jazz chart.

Mike Oldfield - The Killing Fields

Today (November 26th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Killing Fields, the tenth album from Mike Oldfield and the soundtrack album for the British drama of the same title about the experiences of two journalists in Cambodia. It charted at number 97 in the UK and number 64 in Germany.

The Stranglers - Aural Sculpture

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Aural Sculpture, the eighth studio album from the Stranglers. It charted at number 35 in Canada, number 31 in the Netherlands, number 17 in Denmark, number 14 in the UK and number 13 in New Zealand.

Pat Benatar - Tropico

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Tropico, the sixth album from Pat Benatar. The November of 1984 release spent twenty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 14. It also reached number 31 in the UK, number 26 in Germany, number 23 in the Netherlands, number 21 in Canada, number 19 in Sweden, number 16 in France, and number 9 in Australia.

Eurythmics - 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother), the fourth album from Eurythmics. The music was made directly for the soundtrack of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Michael Radford’s remake of the film based on George Orwell’s classic novel. The album charted at number 38 in the Netherlands, number 33 in Canada, number 23 in Germany and the UK, number 22 in Australia, number 21 in New Zealand, number 18 in Switzerland, and number 6 in Sweden. Here in the US, it spent fourteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 93.

Split Enz - See Ya 'Round

Today (November 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the ninth and final album from New Zealand’s Split Enz. By this point, Tim Finn had already left the band so all song writing duties fell to brother Neil. Since he was only come up with six tracks (enough for an EP), the rest of the band contributed pieces to fill out the rest.

The album charted at number 29 in Australia and number 5 in New Zealand.

Frank Zappa - Francesco Zappa

Today (November 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Franceso Zappa, the late 1984 release from Frank Zappa.

Molly Hatchet - The Deed Is Done

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Deed Is Done, the sixth studio album from the American southern rock band Molly Hatchet. This 1984 release spent a total of thirteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, with a top spot of 117.

Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast

Today (November 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Building the Perfect Beast, the second solo studio album from Don Henley. This multi-Platinum seller from 1984 hit number 24 in Sweden, number 18 in New Zealand, number 17 in Canada, number 15 in Norway, number 14 in the UK and number 4 in Australia. Here in the US, it spent sixty-three weeks total on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 13.

The Kinks - Word of Mouth

Tomorrow (November 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Word of Mouth, the twentieth studio album from the Kinks. The record spent twenty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 57.

Let's Active - Cypress

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Cypress, the first full-length studio album from Let’s Active. It spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 138.

Barry Manilow - 2:00 AM Paradise Café

Yesterday (November 15th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of 2:00 AM Paradise Café, the tenth studio album from Barry Manilow. The record went to number 28 in both the UK and on the US Billboard Album chart, spending a total of twenty weeks’ time on the latter chart.

Kool & the Gang - Emergency (30th anniversary)

Today (November 15th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Emergency, the eighteenth album and one of the best sellers from Kool & the Gang. The record went to number 13 on the US Billboard Album chart, with a seventy-four week run on the chart.

For my complete review of the album, click here.


For more from Kool & the Gang, click here.

Kim Wilde - Teases & Dares

This week (November 12th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Teases & Dares, the fourth studio album from Kim Wilde. It charted at number 66 in the UK, number 35 in Sweden, number 24 in Finland, number 22 in Germany and number 10 in Switzerland. Here in the US, it spent ten weeks total on the Billboard Album chart with a peak spot of number 84.

Duran Duran - Arena

Yesterday (November 12th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Arena, the first live album from Duran Duran. The Platinum selling collection of some of their greatest hits to date charted at number 10 in Canada, number 8 in Australia and Finland, number 6 in the UK, number 5 in the Netherlands, number 4 in Switzerland, number 3 in New Zealand and number 1 in Germany and Italy. Here in the US, it spent twenty-eight weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 4.

Madonna - Like a Virgin

On November 12th of 1984, Madonna followed up her debut release with the chart-crunching Like a Virgin. This album went to number 22 in Denmark, number 6 in Norway, number 5 in France, number 3 in Austria, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland, number 2 in Australia and Japan, and number 1 in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK. Here in the US, it spent an amazing one-hundred and eight weeks on the Billboard Album chart, topping out at number 1. Today, we’ll give it a listen in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.

Danny Elfman - So-Lo

Today (November 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of So-Lo, the appropriately titled only solo studio album from Oingo Boingo’s Danny Elfman. Even though most of the band played on the record, it was not marketed as an Oingo Boingo album so that they could get around a dispute between the band and their label A&M Records. So-Lo was released by MCA Records.

Triumph - Thunder Seven

Today (November 10th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Thunder Seven, the seventh studio album from Canada’s own Triumph. The Platinum seller spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 35. It also went to number 43 in both Canada and Sweden.

Nik Kershaw - The Riddle (30th anniversary)

Today (November 10th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Riddle, the second studio album from Nik Kershaw. The album spent ten weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 113.

For my complete review, click here.

The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow

This week (November 12th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hatful of Hollow, a compilation album featuring BBC Radio 1 recordings and a few new tracks from the Smiths. This Platinum seller went to number 91 in Canada, number 28 in Sweden, number 21 in New Zealand and number 7 in the UK.

Destruction - Sentence of Death

This week (November 10th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sentence of Death, the debut EP from the German thrash-metal trio Destruction. The roster consisted of Marcel Schirmer (bass and vocals), Mike Sifringer (guitar), and Tommy Sandmann (drums).

Midnight Star - Planetary Invasion

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Planetary Invasion, the fifth studio album from Midnight Star. In the US, it spent thirty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a peak spot of number 32 and climbed all the way to number 7 on the Billboard R&B chart. It also went to number 85 in the UK and number 44 in New Zealand.

Steve Miller Band - Italian X-Rays

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Italian X-Rays, the thirteenth studio album from the Steve Miller Band. It went to number 88 in Canada and number 49 in Sweden. Here in the US, it spent ten weeks total on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 101.

Bryan Adams - Reckless

Today (November 5th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Reckless, the fourth studio album from Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. This blockbuster record went to number 19 in Germany, number 11 in the Netherlands, number 10 in Switzerland, number 7 in the UK, number 5 in Sweden, number 2 in Australia and Norway, and number 1 in Canada. Here in the US, it also hit number 1 on the Billboard Album chart with a total chart run of eighty-three weeks.

REO Speedwagon - Wheels Are Turnin' (30th anniversary)

Today (November 5th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Wheels Are Turnin', the eleventh studio album from REO Speedwagon. The album spent forty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 7.

For more on this album, click here.

Alison Moyet - Alf

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Alf, the solo debut album from Alison Moyet. It was her first release after leaving the UK synthpop group Yazoo/Yaz. The record went to number 12 in Canada, number 11 in Sweden, number 5 in Germany, number 3 in the Netherlands and Norway, number 2 in Switzerland, and number 1 in New Zealand and the UK. Here in the US, it spent twenty-five weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 45.

Julian Cope - Fried

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Fried, the second studio album from Julian Cope (and his second release for 1984 too). This one stalled at number 87 on the UK charts.

Cocteau Twins – Treasure

Yesterday (November 1st) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Treasure, the third studio album from the Scottish band the Cocteau Twins. It peaked at number 34 in New Zealand, number 32 in Sweden, number 29 on the UK Pop chart and number 2 on the UK Indie chart.

Toto - Isolation

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Isolation, the fifth studio album from Toto. It had moderate sales, only achieving gold status. Still, it charted at number 67 in the UK, number 65 in Australia, number 57 in Canada, number 26 in the Netherlands, number 17 in Finland and Italy, number 15 in Germany and Switzerland, number 12 in France, number 8 in Norway and Sweden, and number 2 in Japan. Here in the US, it spent twenty-one weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 42.

Autograph - Sign In Please

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sign In Please, the debut album from the Los Angeles hard rock band Autograph. It spent twenty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 29.

Champaign - Woman in Flames

Named after their hometown in Illinois, the American R&B Champaign released their third studio album Woman in Flames thirty years ago this month. The record spent three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 184.

Tommy Shaw - Girls With Guns

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Girls With Guns, the debut solo album from Styx guitarist/singer Tommy Shaw. It spent twenty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 50.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (30th anniversary)

Today (October 29th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Welcome to the Pleasuredome, the debut album from Frankie Goes to Hollywood. This 1984 release spent forty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 33.

For my full review of this double-record, click here.

Philip Bailey - Chinese Wall

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Chinese Wall, the second solo studio album from Philip Bailey. It spent thirty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 22. It also hit number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The record earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male.

Dazz Band - Jukebox

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Jukebox, the sixth studio album from the Dazz Band. It spent twenty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 83. It also went to number 18 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Blondie - Eat To The Beat

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Eat To The Beat, the fourth studio album from Blondie. This 1979 release spent fifty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 17. Around the world, it reached number 23 in Germany, number 19 in Austria, number 16 in the Netherlands, number 9 in Australia, number 6 in Canada and Norway, number 2 in Sweden, and number 1 in the UK.

The Specials - The Specials

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the self-titled debut of the Specials. This 1979 release went to number 34 in Sweden, number 21 in Canada, number 5 in New Zealand and number 4 in the UK. Here in the US, it spent twenty-one weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of 84.

Janet Jackson - Dream Street

Yesterday (October 23rd) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Dream Street, the second studio album from Janet Jackson. Despite Janet’s ongoing role as Cleo Hewitt on season 4 of the TV show Fame, the album only spent six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 147. It did get to number 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The album had four producers – her brother Marlon Jackson, Jesse Johnson of the Time, and disco greats Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte (who guided many of Donna Summer’s biggest hits).

Wham! - Make It Big

Today (October 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Make It Big, the second studio album from Wham! The multi-Platinum seller hit number 5 in France and Germany, number 4 in Austria, and number 3 in Sweden. It held the number 1 spot on the charts in Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK. It also went to number 1 here in the US, with a total of eighty weeks on the Billboard Album chart.

Paul McCartney - Give My Regards to Broad Street

Today (October 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Give My Regards to Broad Street, the soundtrack album to the film of the same name starring Paul McCartney. While the film did not fare well, the album was big across the globe. It went to number 25 in Germany and New Zealand, number 24 in the Netherlands, number 23 in Canada, number 21 on the US Billboard Album chart (with eighteen weeks total on the chart), number 15 in Italy, number 10 in Australia, number 9 in Sweden, number 6 in Japan, number 4 in Norway and Spain, and number 1 in the UK.

Culture Club - Waking Up with the House on Fire

Tomorrow (October 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Waking Up with the House on Fire, the third studio album from Culture Club. The record did well, charting at number 22 in West Germany, number 21 in Switzerland, number 19 in Sweden, number 15 in New Zealand, number 9 in Norway, number 7 in the Netherlands and Italy, number 6 in Canada, number 4 in Japan, and number 2 in Australia, France and the UK. Here in the US, it spent twenty weeks on the Billboard Album Chart with a peak spot of 26.

Pat Benatar - In the Heat of the Night (35th anniversary)

Today (October 20th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of In the Heat of the Night, the debut album from rocker Pat Benatar. It spent a total of one hundred and twenty two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 12.

If you have not yet read it, please click here for my review of one of my favorite albums from 1979. It started a life-long love of Benatar's music.